LAKEWAY — For more than half the season, the Lake Travis football team will play its games in Dripping Springs, a 22-mile journey from Cavalier Stadium.

So, when the Cavaliers play host to Midland Legacy Friday, it’ll be the last time they play at their true home this season. Their final three “home games” will be played at Tiger Stadium in Dripping Springs. Furthermore, Lake Travis is expected to play at least three home games next season on the road, too. The Cavs have three “home games” to play at Tiger Stadium: Bowie (Sept. 25), Dripping Springs (which will technically be the visiting team Oct. 17) and Akins (Oct. 31).

“It’s going to be a big adjustment to not be in front of our own fans (at Cavalier Stadium),” quarterback Luke McBride said. “Our fans are still going to go (to Dripping Springs) to support us. We have a big school and a lot of people want to come and watch us play and support the team. A bigger stadium would get those people here.”

A partial demolition of Cavalier Stadium will begin next week. Completion is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2026. The stadium that holds 7,400 spectators will be expanded to a capacity of roughly 12,000 and renovations will include a new press box, locker rooms, concession stands, a spirit store and a women’s fieldhouse.

The Cavalier Stadium renovation project was approved by voters in the November 2023 bond election. The total bond was $143 million, of which $26.3 million was earmarked for the new stadium. In July, the district board of trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price of $48.3 million with general contractor White Construction for reconstruction.

Growth in the Lakeway area prompted the change.

“I love Cavalier Stadium and it’s been a great venue for us,” said Hank Carter, head football coach and district athletic director. “Our community has outgrown it. We’ve sold out the home side of the season for years. When I first got to Lake Travis in 2008, we had about 1,700 high school students. We’ve gone to as high as 3,800 since I’ve been here.”

The new stadium will have obvious benefits. From now on, every high school student will be able to attend home games. Currently, only 1,000 tickets are allotted to students for home games and “they sell out in a matter of minutes,” the coach said.

Senior defensive end Carter Buck has mixed feelings about expansion. His final home game at Cavalier Stadium will be Friday against Legacy.

“It’ll be the best in stadium in the Austin area, for sure,” said Buck, who will play at TCU. “My brother is a sophomore right now. It’s been great to play on this field when you think of all the greats that have played here. It’s going to be sad to see them tear it down, but the new field is going to be awesome.”

While Cavalier Stadium will receive a massive facelift, it will not be the biggest football venue in the area. Burger Stadium of the Austin ISD leads the way with a game capacity of 15,000 fans. Other Austin-area stadium capacities: Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex (12,442), Kelly Reeves Stadium (11,000), Gupton Stadium (11,000), Bible Memorial Stadium (10,447), Chaparral Stadium (10,000), The Pfield (10,000), Vandegrift’s Monroe Stadium (9,000), Round Rock’s Dragon Stadium (8,871), Nelson Field (8,800), Bob Shelton Stadium (8,600), Rattler Stadium (8,182) and House Park (6,000).

It should be noted that a second high school in the Lake Travis school district will open in August 2028. That school will have its own stadium.